New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-18
DESCRIBING TEXAN ELECTIONS.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.

! SCENES OF VIOLENCE AT THE PoLLs--BALLoT BOXES
AND THEIR CONTENTS DESTROYED.
WASHINGTON, FehI17.-fhe lobby in front OF thu
Senate Committee of Privileges and Elections wat
crowded again to-day by the strikingly picturesque
figures of Texan cowboys who under the suspicion
ct having stuffed ballot boxes robbed tho contents OF
o:hers and hanged or shot halt dozen inoffonsive
negroes As they not admitted to the committee
room except to testify out OF regard for the lungs
those engaged In the examination they spent the
greater pat of the day in hunting for the room in
Sa
beyond shadow of doubt the robbery in broad day
light Of three ballot boxes ihree election precincts
by masked white men. The testimony yet TO come
will establish facts still more startling.
z. B. Brown, coOred was the first witness BE said
that he was clerk OF election at Graba Precinct last
November; BAT votes were cast Of which number
about $50 were Republican, mostly colored There
o gooa deal of noise and rowdying from the
time the polls closed at o'clock, and good deal OF
shooting. good many colored men were alarmed and
"runned off," Brown described the progress OF the
count the receipt Of note from an outsider, which
note the two Democratic election officers considered
secretly and the entrance soon after OF three armea
and disguised who presented pistols TO the faces
Of the tn N5 Rcbsp tbd Whine
election officers, laughed at the affair. Witness never
the box aiterward, but was told by coored man
that he had the box lying in the sand broken In
sand. At the time OF the raid ali the tickets but
ninety-sx had been counted end those were straight
Schcutze Republican candidate for County Judge.
had fifteen ma ority over Judge Kirk. Bolton. Demo
cratic candidate for County Commissioner, was also
running behind.
q. A. Mayo, colored WIS sworn Tho witness
stated that he inspector OF election at Indcpen
dence Precinct The Republican tickets diamond
shaped The Democratic presiding judge. Nj Seward,
after having permitted the count to p.oceed for tine
ten of the diamond tickets having been counted
leaned back In his chair and said al reject TO dem
tickets being counted any mo-. Dey amt no legal
Tickets" There were Isl OF the rejected diamond
shaped straight Republican tickets.
A colloquy between Senators Spooner and Eustis
followed the examination of the witness the outcome
of which the production of adecision of the SUI
preme Court OF Texas rendered yoar before the cleo
ton in question to the effect that the damondshaped
tickets are legal.
After recess W. L. Williams white, being sworn
ing of the votes at the election of last November. As
well as be could remember there were 1ss straight
Republican votes cast About eighteen OF them had
been counted when question arose about the legality |
Of the acknowledged tickets. Thereafter the |
shaped tickets were put ON separate string
and transmitted to Dreuham a decision to their |
legality. 1t Witness impression that they were
not counted placed on the tally sheet The witness
,e a Republican. The other negroes however called
,im a aMugworm." There was no intimidation wit
ness had never seen a iairer election.
a. g. Scott colorcd testified that he n minister.
school teacher and Republican in politics. He is
otter at the Chapel Hill polling place and there
inhouse polling place on that morning. The polls
we're not open though between sixtyhve and seventy
olored men were waiting 70 Sole.
W. s. Buster white. was examined by Senator
warts. lie ia Democrat and voted at Brennan
'recinct. He WAS on duty rs y policeman in Brennan
hen three colo,cd men taken OF Jail and
anged He was in the second story OF tic Town Hall,
verookng the Jail yard, when the lynohers came.
lie described the affair.
G. w Brown. co'ored. SAID that he was Republican
andidate for County Commissioner and elected,
is opponent being ID. d. Bolton, whose son Devices
-as killed After election witness was informed By
'ends that he in danger and had batter stay
round home After he sworn into Office he re-
eiyed note &" authorizing him to lc5ye the county
nd not Commissioner. lie has not been dis
lrbcd in the performance of his duty
+. NJ Newman, white, testified that he n Demo
rat He described the indignation meeting of white
tizens OF Brennan two three days after election.
udge Kirk offered O resolution declaring that "a
ackworth, scheutze Moore Glider. Loc,ctt and
otter had been making incendary speeches they must
hereafter be qmet a committee would instruct
lem to leave the county.
The committee Mt this point adjourned TO 1880
clock tomorrow.